Abstract The pursuit of the ideal tumor marker has generated many testes for using in the diagnosis and management of cancer. Several of which are now widely available. The objective of the current study was to evaluate 5´-NT activity as a tumor marker for breast & brain cancer. Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (ROC) & other statistical parameters were used to investigate this possibility. The results throughout this study supported the motion that 5´-NT specific activity can be considered as an acceptable marker for breast and brain cancer when the comparison was made with benign group. For the breast cancer, the true-positive rate (sensitivity) of tissue extract 5´-NT specific activity was 85.7% while the false-positive rate (1-specificety) was 11.11%, meanwhile both the predictive value of positive test (pv⁺) and the negative predictive value (pv^-) was 88.9% for breast cancer women and benign group. The true positive rate (sensitivity) of tissue extract’s 5´-NT specific activity in the case of brain cancer was (80.4%) with a false-positive rate (1-specificity) equal to (13.6%). The predictive value of positive test (pv⁺) when compared malignant brain group with benign group was (88.09%), while the negative predictive values (pv^-) was found to be (78.04%). The area under ROC curve for tissue extract 5´-NT specific activity were 0.955 (95% CI 0.907–1.0) and 0.922 (95% CI 0.867-0.978) for breast and brain tumor respectively.
Keywords: 5´-Nucleotidase; Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve; breast cancer; brain cancer; tumor marker

Abstract Purpose: To compare clinical results from accelerated partial breast irradiation with predictions from different half-times of recovery of radiation damage. Method: Three published results of excessive late complications led to an editorial which was a “wake up call” to the possible hazards of fractions spaced close together such as two fractions of 3.85 Gy a day on five consecutive days. These results are re-examined here using linear quadratic modelling with mono-exponential and bi-exponential recovery kinetics. Results: Although clinical results showed rather high proportions of severe complications, only in one of the three studies discussed in reference [1] complications were severe enough to cause it to be terminated. Since then other studies with the same doses have reported acceptable results. However, none of these complication rates are predicted to be tolerable, if mono-exponential kinetics with a single T ½ of ~4 hours is assumed. Conclusions: Better matches to clinical results can be found by assuming bi-exponential recovery with 50%-50% components of 0.3 hand 4 h, and α/β = 3 Gy, for late complications. There is continuing need for data from more clinical results, especially concerning various tumour types.
Keywords: breast irradiation; radiation damage; mono-exponential kinetics; bi-exponential kinetics

Abstract Purpose: This work is aimed to show briefly, the clinical development of a new pharmaceutical formulation of interferons for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma. Methods: A rationale design of the combination of IFN-α2b and -γ based in their anti-proliferative synergism on several tumors cell lines identified adequate proportions to be combined to obtain the best clinical results. The potential mechanism of antitumoral effect was studied by qPCR mRNA quantification. HEBERPAG (anti-proliferative synergistic combination of co-formulated recombinant interferons-α2b and –γ) was used in clinical trials in adult patients with non-melanoma skin cancer. Trials were conducted after approval by the ethics review boards of the institutions participating in trials; and the patients gave their written informed consent to be enrolled in the studies and receive HEBERPAG. Results: HEBERPAG inhibits the proliferation of several tumor cell lines in vitro and in vivo. The combination has improved pharmacodinamic properties. Several clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of HEBERPAG in BCC, with excellent cosmetic effect and well tolerable, mild side effects. HEBERPAG was approved by State Control Center for Drug, Medical Equipment and Devises in Cuba, for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma of any subtype, size and localization, and adjuvant to other treatments, surgical or not. After 3-year follow-up, a recurrence rate of 0.03% was detected in treated patients. Conclusions: HEBERPAG is a novel formulation of IFNs, more potent than separated IFNs for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma, with more rapid and prolonged clinical effect and excellent cosmetic effect and safety profile.
Keywords: BCC; clinical trial; HEBERPAG; interferon; non-melanona skin cancer

Abstract Cutaneous side effects of capecitabine include hand foot syndrome which manifests as erythema, swelling and/or desquamation. We report a case on capecitabine treatment presenting with unusual hyperpigmentation of the tongue and skin of the palms and soles. This is a rare manifestation of capecitabine toxicity in darker skin patients. Clinicians and health care workers in oncology should be aware of this potential side effect.
Keywords: capecitabine; tongue; palms; soles; hyperpigmentation

Abstract We read with interest the article entitled “Primary small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast: a report of two cases and review of the literature” by Spinelli et al. The authors stated that “the histogenesis is still unclear because the presence of neuroendocrine cells in normal breast has not been proved conclusively”. Moreover they reported two histogenetic hypotheses, the first one stating that “small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SCNC) is a variant of metaplastic carcinoma arising from a lobular or ductal carcinoma”, the second one claiming that “it is a distinct type of breast carcinoma different from the usual type”. We appreciate this case report and we agree with the authors on the histogenetic diatribe of this rare type of breast neoplasia. In this background, we would highlight our previous case report about a solid variant of mammary adenoid cystic carcinoma merging with "small cell carcinoma" [2] in which we found positivity for CD10 and S100 and negativity for estrogen receptors, both in sbACC and in SCC, in keeping with a myoepithelial origin of both neoplastic areas [3] supporting the hypothesis that the “two components share the same histogenetic myoepithelial origin and represent an example of dedifferentiation along neuroendocrine phenotype lines occurring in a multipotential neoplastic stem line, already committed towards a myoepithelial phenotype”. These findings are in keeping with the first hypothesis about the metaplastic, divergent histogenetic nature of SNSC and we think that this rare SNSC, albeit arising from a different tumor, could be introduced in this case review of the literature, also for its contribute to the histogenetic diatribe.
Keywords: small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SCNC); histogenetic diatribe